The inclement weather of a bitterly cold Saturday kept the numbers surprisingly low as Ilford AC had 15 athletes on view in the London Regional Cross Country Championships held at Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead Heath.

 

The lack of athletes was most noticeable in the junior races where Liam Leddy was first up in the U17 men and put up a good show to finisn 26th. This also meant that the course was not cutting up this year and in the good to firm going there was no evidence of the heavy mud that usually characterises this course. The womens race got under way with just over 150 athletes contesting the spoils over 6 kilometres made up of 2 large loops with J Heslop of Clapham Chasers ending up the surprise winner. Bree Nordin led the Ilford ladies home in 66th and a superb 26th in the masters category, with Mel Jones the 2nd scorer having an excellent run back in 84th. Dianne Crisp was somehow missed from the results by the organisers but was reckoned to have finished in 95th some 6 places ahead of Nicola Hopkinson who closed the squad in 101st. Her omission obviously makes the Club's team placing of 14th out of 25 competing teams provisional and subject to promotion to a higher official position. Three other Ilford ladies gave the squad some considerable support finishing in very close proximity with Victoria Morgan 132nd just out sprinting Sally Gillam 134th in the final run-in and Pam Jones giving chase not far behind in 137th

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In the men's race comprising 2 small and 2 large loops of 10 kilometres, Malcolm Muir continued his recent good form with yet another stormer working his way through the field to an excellent 17th place overall. Darren Bottrill 74th and Peter Clinch 195th were next home followed by Neil Crisp occupying 122nd spot. This also placed Crisp an excellent 29th in the accomapnying masters race. Matt Maple finished 174th while veteran performer and club President John Mackenzie was 6th man home for 212th .Newcomer Chris Togwell has suffered from an ankle injury all week and only decided to run at the last minute. However he wisely decided to drop out after completing just over 1 lap rather than risk further damage.  

The men's squad closed an excellent 14th out of 49 competing teams making them the top Essex club.

The same evening President John Mackenzie was back in action presenting awards at the Club's annual Presentation Prize giving and Disco held at Ilford Sports Club where many of the clubs starts, past, present and future received their prizes as part of a very successful evening at Cricklefields.